Garment hanger



Sept. 24, 1946.' E. 1.. JOHNSON 2,408,145

I GARMENT HANGER Filed Oct. 30, 1944 Patented Sept. 24, 1946 Ap ueati n oetoberso, 1944',-seria11vo.561,i19 I 1 similar materials, thusobviating the necessity for many of'theusual mechanical operations, such as machining, cutting, welding, painting and asdevices. r

Another important object is to provide such a device having anti-friction bearings facilitating ease of operation, and which is readily secured in assembled relationship by means of'interengagement of the'parts in cooperation with the spring or'elastic means for applying clamping pressure.

, Other objects, suchfa the economy of manufacture will beapparentas the invention is better understood from the,f ollowing description, which, taken in, connection with the 1 accompanying drawing, discloses an embodiment -thereof.

E'Referringto the drawing: v V

Figure 1 is anelevational view, illustrating' an sembly, incidental to theiproduction of similar embodiment offthe invention."

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view, viewing Fig. 1 from the left. Q- Fig. 3 is a section taken. substantially on line 3.3.in Fig. 1, showingdetails of construction. Fig.4 is a section taken substantially on line 4-'4, in Fig. 1,] further illustrating details of construction.

Fig. 5 is a similar view, illustrating operation of the latching means; and,

Fig. 6 is a perspective view, showing the latch plate in detaiL, v To illustrate the invention I have shown a garment hanger including,.a suspension element II, clamp elements I 2 and I3 ,,an actuating spring I4, anda latch plate l5. I Y The suspension elementl I is preferablyof substantially uniform thickness and includes a suit able hook portion 2I, by means of "which the de' vice may be engagedlwith any suitable support,

I a carrier. portion 22 preferably of suitable: width for engagement in a; coat orla similar garment and havingslightly rounded, ends, and depending abutment fingers 23 and 24, formed integral therewith and being spaced apart to provide an intermediate clearance channel 25, as shown,

A serrated effect may be produced on the side faces of the abutment fingers 23 and 24, for

increasing the holding efficiency thereof, by

' 6 Claims. (01. 223-;96) 1' 1;

. clampelements I2 and I3, are preferably,-

duplicates sothat they may be formed in the These elements include, a

same molding. rdie. body portionfil, which is preferably shaped to conform .to the contour of the carrier portion 22 of the suspension element, and integral clamping fingers 32 and.33. The clamping fingers beingIormed'to register with the abutment fingers 23 "and 24, and preferably of similar shape except thatthey may be slightly curved inwardly toward theirlower extremitiesas shown to increase their gripping capacity. Longitudinal grooves '34, may likewise be formed on the inside faces of theifingers 32 and 33,..for maxim gripping efiiciency. The above described parts II; I2 and I3, may

be molded complete oiany suitable plastic material or may Joe-cast in metal upon occasion. Theactuating spring I4, may be a helical tension spring asshown or any suitable elastic or y'ie'l'dable element capable of effecting clamping action byeither tension or compression. ..In accordance with a feature of the invention, pivot or fulcrum bearings M are provided to form a'pivotal connection between the suspension elei'nent II, and the clamp elements I2 and I3. In the present embodiment these bearings are formed by knife-edge protuberances formed integral with the carrier portion 22 of the suspension element II, these are located directly above and intermediate the ends of the abutment fingers-23 and 24, see Figs. 1 and 3. One of the bearings 4| is provided for each one of the clamp fingers 32 and 33, and companion V shaped sockets :42, including obtuse angles, are formed in corresponding. positions in the clamp elements I2 and 'lz3 to cooperate therewith. These sockets 42 are preferably of just sufficient length to receive the bearing II so that when they are engaged therein, registration of the clamp fingers with theabutment fingers will be effected.

: ;Adjacent and preferably beneath the bearings 4| and the sockets 42,-the suspension element II anditheclamp-elements I2 and I 3 are apertured in alignmentto form a substantially continuous bore 43, for, receiving the actuating springs I4, as shown, Figs. 1 and 3.

The springs I4 ,may be interlockingly. secured in operative relationship by means of suitable anchor pins 45 engaged in the looped ends of th springs .I4 :and seated in suitable sockets 46, formed in the clamp elements I2 and I3 adjacent the bores 43, as shown Suitable abutments 41 may be PQvided for 3 limiting the closing movement of the clamping fingers 32 and 33 upon occasion.

Latching means is provided for retaining the clamping fingers 32 and 33 in open position as illustrated in Fig. 5. This means includes the latch plate I5 and cooperating formations n the suspension element II and the clamp elements I2 and I3, as illustrated in Figs. 1, 4, and 5. The plate [5 is an elongated and relativelythin strip of flem'ble -material, such asspring steel, which is perforated to provide a centrally located registration aperture 5|, and two latching apertures 52, laterally disposed with respect to the registra tion aperture 5|. While the apertures 5| and 52 are of rectangular form in the present embodiment it will be obvious that their form is 'de-- I claim:

1. A garment hanger comprising, a suspension element having a carrier portion provided with spaced depending abutment fingers, a pair of duplicate clamp elements for cooperation there-. with in hanging garments, each having a body portion shaped to conform to the contour of the carrier portion of said suspension element and having depending clamping fingers disposed in registration with the abutment fingers thereon, and yieldable means for effecting clamping action, said clamp elements being disposed on termined by the cooperating elements and that j therefore they may have other suitable forms.

A rectangular aperture 53 is formed substantially at the center of the carrier portion 22 of the suspension element I I, for receiving the plate I5, and an integral perpendicularly disposed pin 54, is located at the center of 'the aperture 53. The pin 54 is formed to fit snugly into the registration aperture 5], so that upon assembly, the plate I5 is interlockingly secured against relative movement in the plane of the plate thereby.

Latch lugs 55 are formed on the clamp elements I2 and I3 'for. engagement in the latching apertures 52, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and. 5.

- Suitable actuating levers 56 are formed on the,

clamp elements I2 and I3, and the suspension element I I may be relieved as at 51., to permit maximum opening of the clamping fingers 32 and 33.

The entire garment hanger is formed of three relatively simple molded parts. .I-I',, I2 and I3, two helical springs I4 with looped ends, four short plain round pins 45, and onesimple stamping. These parts are assembled by engaging the latch .plate I5 with the pin 54, then the clamp elements l2 and I3 with the fulcrum bearings M of the suspensionelement I I, then inserting. the springs I4. in the bores 43., and then inserting the anchor pins 45.

When so assembled, the parts II., I2 and I3 are secured in operative relationship by the springs I4, and the latch plate I5 is operatively interlocked between the bottom surfaces of the latch lugs 55 and a body portion 58, of the suspension element II.

Pressure applied to one of the actuating levers 56 moves the associated clamp element about the fulcrum bearings 4| against the action of the springs M. The springs I4 are tensioned to exert clamping force continuously or so that at least some force will be required to start the opening of the clamping fingers from fully closed position.

Upon movement of the clamping finger 32 to the position shown at the left in Fig. 5, the latch plate I5 snaps over the latch lug 55 to lock the clamp element in the full open position. When suita'ble pressure is applied'to a projecting end 59 of the latch plate by means of a finger, release of the clamp element is efiected. This latching effect permits an operator to use both hands for filling the clamping fingers or to arrange garments therein.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

opposite sides of said suspension element and being retained in operative registration therewith by means of pivot bearing connections formed in part integralwith the carrier portion of said suspension element and functioning in cooperation with the yieldable means for effecting clamping action.

2. A garment hanger comprising, a suspension element provided with knife-edge fulcrum bearing forming means arranged'in spaced relationship and in pairs oppositely disposed with respect to said suspensionelemeht, cooperating clamp elements havingspa'ced V shaped cavitiestherein for receiving the bearing forming 'means in reg: is'tered relationship whereby substantially 'f'ric-' tionless clamping action is facilitated and regis tration is retained, and yielding means arranged to apply continuous pressure at the fulcrum bearings and similar clamping pressure to 'said clamp elements. I

3. A garment hanger comprising, a suspension element provided with knife-edge fulcrum bearing forming means arranged in spaced relationship and in pairs oppositely disposed with respect to said suspension element, cooperating clamp elements having spaced V shaped cavities therein for receiving the bearing forming means in registered relationship whereby substantially frictionless clamping action is facilitated and registration is retained, and yielding means arranged to apply continuous pressure at the fulcrum bearings and similar clamping pressure to said clamp elements, said yielding means including a helical spring extending through said suspension element and engaged with two independent cooperating clamp elements whereby "clamping tension is aplied to the clamp element's simultaneouslywhile permitting independent operation thereof.

4. For association with a garment hanger of the character describe'd'i'ncluding a suspension element, and clamp elements laterally disposed with respect thereto, a latch device comprising, a flexible plate having a centrally disposed registration aperture therein adapted for interlocking engagement with the suspension element of said garment hanger and two laterally disposed latch receiving apertures either one or both of which may be engaged by 'a'cl'ampeljement of said garment hanger, for latching the clamp elements inpredetermined positions'upon occasion. 5.; For association with a garment hanger o the character described including a suspension element, and clam elements laterally disposed with respect thereto, a latch device comprising, a flexible plate having a centrally disposed latch registering aperture therein wherein the suspension element may be cooperatively engaged and two other apertures laterally disposed with respect thereto and formed to receive cooperating latch elements of "companion clamp devices whereby the clamp devices may be latched in predetermined positions.

6. For association with a garment hanger of the character described including a suspension element, and clamp elements laterally disposed with respect thereto, a latch device comprising, a flexible plate having a centrally disposed latch registering aperture therein wherein the suspension element may be cooperatively engaged and two other apertures laterally disposed with re- 6 spect thereto and formed to receive cooperating latch elements of companion clamp devices whereby the clamp devices may be latched in predetermined positions, said flexible plate being arranged to snap into latching engagement with the latch elements and for release by flexing manually.

ELMER L. JOHNSON. 

